Development of Ag_0.04ZrO₂/rGO heterojunction, as an efficient visible light photocatalyst for degradation of methyl...

Methyl orange (MO) is mutagenic, poisonous, and carcinogenic in nature, hence, effective methods are required for its degradation. We have synthesized pure ZrO₂, Ag-doped ZrO_2, and Ag-doped ZrO₂/rGO as hybrid photocatalysts by facile hydrothermal method. These photocatalysts were characterized by powder XRD, scanning electron microscopy, EDX, FTIR, photoluminescence, UV-Vis diffuse reflectance (DRS), and Raman spectroscopy. The photodegradation of MO (10 ppm) was studied with pure ZrO₂, Ag-doped ZrO_2, and Ag-doped ZrO₂/rGO (10 mg/100 mL catalyst dosage) photocatalysts at 100 min irradiation time under UV-Visible light. The pH effect and catalyst dosage on photodegradation of MO was investigated. Ag_0.04ZrO₂/rGO photocatalyst exhibited the maximum photocatalytic degradation of MO (87%) as compared to Ag_0.04ZrO₂ (60%) and pure ZrO₂ (26%). Reusability experiments ensured the excellent stability of photocatalyst after five consecutive experiments. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the facile hydrothermal synthesis of Ag_0.04ZrO₂/rGO photocatalyst for photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange.